Therapeutic pressurized girdle



Jan. I, 1963 M. E. EISEN 3,07

THERAPEUTIC PRESSURIZED GIRDLE Filed Dec. 30, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR Jan. 1, 1963 M. E. EISEN 3,

THERAPEUTIC PRESSURIZED GIRDLE Filed Dec. 30. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ivZiINVENTOR MW/VZZZSE/V ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,071,133Patented Jan. 1, 1963 3,071,133 THERAPEUTIC PRESSURIZED GHRDLE Milton E.Eisen, 111 E. 80th St., New York 21, N.Y. Filed Dec. 30, 196i Ser. No.79,655 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-78) The present invention relates to apressurized therapeutic garment, particularly a garment of the girdletype which is utilizable in the treatment of low back pain, andcoincidental vascular diseases.

According to the present invention, an inflatable bladder is supportedwithin a girdle-type undergarment and air pressure developed in saidbladder serves to pressurize the girdle so as to prevent dilation ofarterioles and veins in the abdominal regions and to comfortably supportthe sacro-lumbar junction. The inflatable bladder is positioned within apocket attached to the back of the undergarment and is inflatabletowards the sacro-lurnbar junction and, consequently, is an aid tosufferers of low back pain with such specific conditions as:osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, rheumatoid spondylitis, sciatica,sacro-iliac strain and herniated intervertebral discs. Such conditionsusually have the common denominator of muscle deficiency and fibrositis.By accelerated therapy, including use of the present garment over aperiod of 3-6 weeks muscle relaxation has been achieved.

It will be readily apparent that the present invention while providingan improved form fitting cushioned support of the sacro-lumbar junctionand, while useful for those suffering from back ailments andcoincidental vascular diseases is also useful for those healthy personswho would benefit from such support while driving or engaging in otheractivities which fatigue the back.

Accordingly, it is an object of invention to provide means forpressurization of the sacro-lumbar region.

Another object of invention is to provide a girdle-type undergarmentwhich is utilizable in the treatment of patients suffering from low backpain, and coincidental vascular diseases.

Another object of invention is to provide a girdle-type undergarmentwhich contains inflatable means for pressurizing and supporting thehuman body.

Yet additional objects of invention will become apparent from theensuing specification and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a girdle-type undergarment shownenveloping a human abdomen;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of the undergarment showing in phantomconventional bone reinforcing means and inflatable bladder 32;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective showing bulb-type hand pump utilizedfor inflating the bladder;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing front and back portions of theundergarment positioned about a human body and showing in phantombladder 32 inflated so as to provide maximum support at the sacro-lumbarjunction of the spine;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section of the undergarment, taken along sectionline 55 of FIG. 1 and showing the bladder filling neck 34 supportedwithin tab 36 of the undergarment front; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section, taken along section line 66 of FIG. 2 andshowing bladder 32 positioned within inner pocket 18 adjacent theundergarment back 14.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 undergarment 10 is shown as comprising front 12 andback 14 which are adjustably attached to each other by means of laces30. Front 12 is provided with medial reinforcing portion 16 in whichconventional reinforcing bones 13 may be inserted. Garters 26 may dependfrom both the front and back portions of the undergarment. Manifestly,the garment may be manufactured, also, with a depending pants portion.Vertically disposed zipper track 20 with fastener 22 may be supportedwithin front 12.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 through 6, back 14 is provided withinner pocket 40 in which is inserted bladder 32, inflatable by means ofinflating neck 34 towards the sacro-lumbar junction of the spine. As thebladder is inflate, by hand pump 38, abdominal pressurization withenhanced venous return is provided.

Filling neck 34 is provided with cap 35, neck 34 extending from back 14into tab portion 36 of the undergarment front 12. Thus, refilling bymeans of conventional bulb type pump 38, employing ball check or similarvalve means may be conveniently accomplished, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

Manifestly, a single piece girdle may be employed together with aninflatable bladder positioned elsewhere within the garment and thepresent twopiece construction may be otherwise modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of invention as defined in thesubjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic pressurized undergarment comprising:

(A) A front portion and back portion adjustably attached at their sideedges, so as to envelop a human torso;

(B) A bladder supported inwardly of said back portion and when in useinflatable inwardly thereof towards the sacro-lumbar junction of thehuman body; and

(C) Reinforcing means positioned in said front and back portions andinhibiting longitudinal distension of said front and back portions.

2. A therapeutic pressurized undergarment comprising:

(A) A front portion and a back portion having an inner pocket, saidfront and back portions being configured to envelop a human torso;

(B) Adjustable means interconnecting said front and back portions;

(C) A bladder positioned in said pocket and inflatable towards thelumbar region of the human body; and

(D) Reinforcing means positioned in said front and back portions andinhibiting longitudinal distension of said front and back portions.

3. A therapeutic pressurized undergarment comprising:

(A) A medially reinforced front and a medially reinforced back portionwith an inner pocket, said front and back portions being configured toenvelop a human torso;

(B) Lace means adjustably interconnecting said front and back portions;and

(C) A bladder positioned in said inner pocket and inflatable inwardlytowards the lumbar region of the human body, said bladder having aninflating neck adapted to extend from the back portion around the sideof the human body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,263,937 Sachse Apr. 23, 1918 1,685,477 Beck Sept. 25, 1928 2,216,270Jacks Oct. 1, 1940 2,481,291 Coleman Sept. 6, 1949 2,762,366 Huxley etal Sept. 11, 1956

1. A THERAPEUTIC PRESSURIZED UNDERGARMENT COMPRISING; (A) A FRONTPORTION AND BACK PORTION ADJUSTABLY ATTACHED AT THEIR SIDE EDGES, SO ASTO ENVELOP A HUMAN TORSO; (B) A BLADDER SUPPORTED INWARDLY OF SAID BACKPORTION AND WHEN IN USE INFLATABLE INWARDLY THEREOF TOWARDS THESACRO-LUMBAR JUNCTION OF THE HUMAN BODY; AND (C) REINFORCING MEANSPOSITIONED IN SAID FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS AND INHIBITING LONGITUDINALDISTENSION OF SAID FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS.